San Jose State University researchers developed a prototype power converter for PV panels that captures more than 30 percent more energy than conventional technologies. Read more →
To meet its zero-carbon energy goals, New York will require a complex mix of renewable resources. Grid operators around the world are busy these days, but few have quite as much on their minds as NYISO, the independent system operator that manages New York state's bulk power system and wholesale energy market. Read more →
At-a-Glance: Hawaiian Electric (HECO), which has committed to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045, announced 16 new solar plus storage or standalone battery projects selected for procurement on the islands. HECO already is moving toward a 30 percent renewable energy generation portfolio by the end of the year. To learn more, read “HECO selects 16 Read more →
The fate of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVS) is an important issue for manufacturers, policymakers and EV owners to address. The economic potential for battery reuse, or “second life,” could help decrease the upfront costs of EV batteries and increase the value of a used EV. Read more →
The United States consumed more renewable energy than coal last year, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). In 2019, coal consumption fell 15 percent in 2019 compared to the year before, while renewable-energy consumption grew 1 percent. Read more →
Southern Company has committed to a net-zero carbon target for 2050. To meet this goal, it will balance emissions from its fossil-fuel-fired generation fleet and natural-gas business with heavy investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. Read more →
California reports transportation in general contributes to half of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and 70% of that comes from light-duty vehicles. Uber, Lyft and others within the light-duty transportation network contribute about 1% of California’s light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is developing a plan to mandate a phased shift to electric vehicles. Read more →
Getting to 100 percent renewables isn’t just about investing heavily in wind and solar. Utilities can get to 50 percent easily enough this way, even to 70, 80 or 90 percent. However, Colorado utility executives say the last 10 to 30 percent will require an expanded electricity market, cost-effective battery storage, and finessed demand on the local level. Read more →
In 2018 alone, California wildfires released 45.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, more than half as much as the state’s industrial sector emits in a year. Since, California has made reducing carbon emissions a top priority, the state has also embraced the use of thinning 1 million acres a year of live and dead trees. Read more →
At-a-Glance Amazon announced five new renewable energy projects in China, Australia and the United States that further support the organization’s commitment to reach 80 percent renewable energy by 2024 and 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 (or as early as 2025), as well as to reach net-zero carbon by 2040. To learn more, read “Amazon Read more →
At-a-Glance Solena Group announced a deal with officials in Lancaster, California, to make hydrogen by using plasma heating technology — originally developed for NASA — to disintegrate the city’s paper recyclables. Solena is one of many firms looking for ways to cheaply produce hydrogen without generating planet-warming gases in hopes that the clean-burning fuel will Read more →
At-a-Glance: Lower greenhouse gas emissions might be cause for celebration in many parts of the world, but in California, this drop could hurt the state’s fight against climate change. Many of the state’s green initiatives are funded through a cap-and-trade system and the sale of permits to businesses that release gases into the atmosphere. With Read more →
